Readers are sounding the death knell for the second-hand video game market as digital sales continue to dominate. In the latest Games Inbox, correspondents argue that the shift to digital is irreversible, with Sony and Nintendo leading the charge away from physical discs.
The end of physical media?
Taylor Moon, in an expert analysis, states: 'Physical media had a good run but I'm afraid it's all over now, as far as games go, and it's not coming back.' He points out that if games come as codes in boxes, once used, there's nothing to resell. 'Unless people are going to get so desperate for owning things they want to buy empty boxes.'
Another reader, Benson, notes the convenience factor: 'Digital is more convenient and if there's one truth of the modern world it's that people value convenience over all things, including cost, quality, and issues of morality.'
Nintendo's digital trajectory
Simundo highlights that Nintendo's digital software income now exceeds 50%, with the latest fiscal report showing 67.2% of Nintendo hardware sales are digital. 'Nintendo do seem to be on the same trajectory as Sony, it'll just take them a bit longer to get there,' he says. GameCentral confirms that more than half of Nintendo's software income has come from digital sales since at least 2025.
Marc speculates that the PlayStation 6 will have a handheld counterpart, which would further discourage disc usage. 'They are worried about splitting the market as you won't be putting Blu-rays into a portable system, will you?'
Consumer backlash and industry trends
David criticizes Nintendo over U.S. tariffs, saying the company should refund customers for price increases. GameCentral clarifies that this is due to Trump's tariffs, not a tax hike, and no company is planning reimbursements.
Brown Bread defends Shenmue 3 as a '7 out of 10' game that deserves a second look, while Dio praises Yoshi And The Mysterious Book as 'a charming little game full of invention and ideas.'
The consensus among readers is clear: the second-hand market is doomed as physical sales dwindle and digital convenience prevails.
